Filmshot

Filmshot is a term occasionally used to describe a single continuous recording captured by a camera during the production of a film. In standard industry practice, this unit is referred to simply as a shot, and filmshot is not an official or widely standardized term.

A filmshot is defined by what is recorded from the moment the camera starts rolling to when it stops, including its framing, composition, camera distance, lighting, sound, and any movement that occurs within the continuous take. Shots come in various types depending on distance and emphasis, such as long shots, full or wide shots, medium shots, close-ups, and extreme close-ups. Movement can be integrated within a shot through pan, tilt, dolly, track, crane, or handheld techniques, all without a cut.

In production planning, a scene is typically built from multiple shots, with blocking and coverage determining how many shots are captured. A take refers to one attempt at recording a particular shot. The choice of shot sizes and movements, as well as the rhythm of edits, shapes the viewer’s perception of space, character, and action.

Duration of a filmshot varies widely, from fractions of a second to several seconds or more, depending on pacing, performance, and blocking. Historically, shot lengths have shifted with editing trends, from longer takes in early cinema to shorter, rapidly cut sequences in modern films.

Because filmshot is not an official term, its use can be ambiguous; most professionals use “shot” or “single take” to describe the unit of footage.